If you’ve never heard of me or my books, I write sexually explicit books about rock stars. My latest release, Hot Ticket, is about the bass player of a fictional rock band called Sinners. His particular kink is a pain fetish. He also likes to restrain women and “torture” them with pleasure. Each member of the band has his own particular kink. One enjoys using toys. One prefers to go at it as discreetly as possible in public. There’s a voyeur who likes to watch. And then there is Trey Mills. So maybe you’re wondering if I tell my mother what kind of books I write? Yeah, she knows.

Most of the members of my family are fans of my books. You didn’t think I was raised by a bunch of prudes, did you? My mom and aunt are voracious readers. They read everything I write and ask for more. My sister, who rarely reads, has even read my books. And enjoyed them. And told me her husband really enjoyed that she read them because it put her in “the mood”, which I did not need to know, thank you very much. Dad likes to tease me about the books I write, as my dad is the kind of person who teases about everything (including my advanced degrees in science—he thinks a BS degree is bulls**t, a MS is more s**t and a PhD is piled higher and deeper, just so you know what I’m dealing with here), but even dear Daddy drove two hours to attend one of my book signings and I could see the pride on his face. Even my grandmothers own my books. One of grandmothers read them and said I would have to explain some of the terms that she didn’t understand. I’m glad she’s a bit senile and forgot to ask for further clarification. Having a discussion about the kinky birds and the naughty bees with my grandmother is not on my bucket list. My son has never read my books, and I think we’re going to keep it that way, but I sometimes talk to him about the characters. He’s used to his mother talking about fictional people as if they are real. Now the extended family are more likely to whisper amongst themselves that I write “that kind of book”, but it doesn’t bother me and it doesn’t stop them from buying them and reading them. It just stops them from telling everyone that they did read and even enjoyed them. It might embarrass them to admit it. I write books that are explicitly sexual in nature, not books about serial killers. Strangely, in our society, sexually explicit material is more taboo than grotesquely violent material. I have never understood why. There is nothing wrong with sex and everything wrong with violence. A lot of people are more embarrassed to buy condoms and lube than to purchase bullets for their semi-automatic assault rifle. Why is that?

I think the main distinction between porn, erotica and erotic romance is the opinion of the reader. I didn’t used to think that. I used to think porn was strictly for titillation, erotica was literature that included sex as a main theme but did not necessarily involve love, and erotic romance was literature that included both sex and love and ended with a happily ever after. To some people, my books are erotic romance. They recognize that the developing relationship is the most important part of the book, and that the lead characters happen to enjoy having sex with each other. To some people, my books are erotica. They get so caught up in the explicitness of the sex scenes that their eyeballs start steaming and they can’t get into the deeper meaning of the books. And to a few people, my books are porn. They probably think Animal Planet is a porn channel as well. Sex happens—maybe not to you—but it happens. I used to be bothered when someone would refer to my books as porn, but now I’ve figured out that it’s a personal problem, I mean, opinion. One person’s outlandish porn is another person’s Friday night.

If you were a best-selling author of erotica, would you be proud of it or would you try to hide it?

As a special treat for our readers, leave a comment and you might win a prize pack of Olivia’s books (Backstage Pass, Rock Hard and Double Time). Winner will be drawn on 1/25/13.

We have a special offer going on for the release of Hot Ticket by Olivia Cunning which comes out on February 5th! If you pre-order the book, we will send you an exclusive Sinners logo tattoo and one sexy Sinners hot pink guitar pick! But you have to hurry because we only have 1,000 of them available! You have until January 31st or until quantities run out! Here is what you do:

1. Pre-order the book (print or eBook) through any retailer (Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Indiebound, BAM, etc.)
2. Email your proof of purchase (receipt or picture of the receipt) to HotTicket@sourcebooks.com. Don’t forget to include your home address (US & Canada only please) so we can send you the tattoo and guitar pick! Yes, if you’ve already pre-ordered it months ago, that counts, you just have to show your receipt.
3. You will get an email back confirming when the items have been sent out. If you were not one of the first 1,000 people, you will also be alerted.
4. Enjoy Hot Ticket when you receive it in February!

And as a bonus Olivia has decided to run a contest of her own. Here are the details:
· Apply your temporary Sinners tattoo and take a picture of you with your tat.

· Email your pic to Olivia at olivia@oliviacunning.com. With your permission, I will post the pictures of Sinners fans with their new Sinners temporary tattoos on Sinners website: http://www.sinnersontour.com/sinnersink.html. Trey’s comments included.

· Everyone who sends a pic to be posted on SinnersonTour.com will be entered to win a 7″ Kindle Fire HD and a $50 Amazon gift card to load it up with all your favorite ebooks (or buy diapers, whatever…).

· See all the details here: http://oliviacunning.wordpress.com/2012/12/16/cool-free-gifts-for-pre-ordering-hot-ticket/

The Atomic City Girls

Heaven’s Watcher

My Favorite Mistake

Taking Desire

Needing Desire

Running Hot

Frost Moon

Blue Light Special

Review Star Rating Definitions

1 Star – We currently do not review any story with a 1 star rating. If it’s DNF or a “wall-banger” we decline to review.

2 Stars — Not wonderful, but tolerable. There may be some minor editing glitches but not enough to stop you reading. Not a wall-banger, but nothing you’d re-read. This is a book you would borrow from the library – not buy- and never check out again. You might recommend it to a friend with a mention of the glitches, knowing that something in the plot or story would still appeal to them regardless.

3 Stars — Good. Mostly enjoyable. You made it through and didn’t consider it a waste of time or money. The story was strong enough or the conflict tight enough, so even when the book faltered, it was able to draw you back in and keep you. There’s a chance you’ll recommend it to a friend, but it wouldn’t go on your keeper shelf.

4 Stars — Very Good. You’re glad you were the one who got to review the book. You would probably buy it and would definitely recommend it to your friends. You liked the characters and the plot. The writing style was good and the editing clean.

5 Stars — Great! You would definitely buy this book. You would definitely recommend it to your friends. You really loved the characters and the plot and would consider looking for this authors back list or making her an autobuy. The writing and editing were superb.

LASR Best Book – For a book or story that is truly exceptional. You think about it when you’re not reading it. You wonder what happens to the characters when you finish. You would absolutely buy everything else this author had to offer. The highest praise – and reserved for only a few.

Review Heat Level Descriptions

SWEET: no visual love scenes and no descriptive kissing;

SENSUAL: Contains a high degree of sexual tension, steamy kisses and passionate clinches, but all fully consummated love scenes will be implied, not described, and with the bedroom door firmly closed.

SPICY: Contains actual love scenes and may include detailed descriptions of foreplay and consummation.

HOT: Contains sizzling and very detailed love scenes throughout and graphic, explicit content which may be offensive to some.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 6,643 other subscribers

Email Address

Get our posts in your reader!

FTC Disclaimer:

Most books reviewed on this site have been provided free of charge by the publisher, author or publicist. On occasion, we review books we have purchased with our own money or borrowed from a public library. Any links to places to purchase books are provided as a convenience, and do not serve as an endorsement by this blog. All reviews are the true and honest opinion of the blogger reviewing the book. The method of acquiring the book does not have a bearing on the content of the review.